WJPA Sports

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Konnor Griffin hit a two-run single to key a five-run second inning and Henry Davis tacked on a two-run homer to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates over the NL Central champion Milwaukee Brewers 7-4. Milwaukee, a major league-best 95-58, leads the Los Angeles Dodgers by two games for the top NL seed and holds the tiebreaker. Pittsburgh (76-77) is closing in on missing the playoffs for the 11th consecutive season. Since 1992, the Pirates’ only postseason appearances were from 2013-15.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — The New England Patriots’ wide receivers are moving forward without A.J. Brown. The star free-agent acquisition suffered a high ankle sprain in New England’s season opener. Brown will miss at least the next four games. Coach Mike Vrabel says the Patriots’ game plans won’t change too much in Brown’s absence. But he says guys will move around to different positions. Romeo Doubs will be asked to fill some of the void left by Brown. Doubs had a rough debut with a key drop in the Patriots’ loss to the Seahawks.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Western Michigan and its conference have insisted Michigan should not have been given an extra second in its dramatic win over the Broncos two weeks ago. The NCAA agrees, but said it can’t do anything about it. The NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Oversight Committee announced Wednesday that proper replay protocols weren’t followed in Michigan’s Hail Mary win, altering the outcome of the game. The committee also reiterated it doesn’t have the authority to overturn the result. Michigan won the Sept. 5 game 13-12 on a Hail Mary pass after the replay official had put 1 second back on the clock when Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood’s first try was incomplete.

WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) — The Winnipeg Jets suspended goaltender Connor Hellebuyck on Wednesday night for failing to report to training camp. The team said general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff would address the media Thursday morning. It did not specify the length of the suspension for the U.S. Olympic star. Hellebuyck, a three-time Vezina Trophy winner and 2025 Hart Trophy winner as NHL MVP, publicly requested a trade from the team on Aug. 27. In a statement posted on X by his agent, Ray Petkau, Hellebuyck said he had privately requested a trade “several months ago” and that he gave the organization time to address it “queitly and respectfully.”